DAP confirms 'backing' for Hadi as Opposition Leader

comments     Beh Lih Yi     Published     Updated

Despite private reservations about the appointment of acting PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang as the new Opposition Leader, DAP reiterated their support for it since he has been proposed by the opposition party with the most seats in Parliament.

Repeating a statement last week from the party, vice-president Dr Tan Seng Giaw yesterday said DAP backed the appointment of Hadi because it respected the principle of convention among the opposition in Parliament.

Tan said there was no difference between Hadi and late PAS president and Opposition Leader Fadzil Noor although Hadi is seen as a more assertive leader of the Islamic party compared with the moderate Fadzil.

"It is the same for us whether it is Fadzil, Hadi or [vice-president] Mustaffa Ali [as Opposition Leader] since they come from the same party and have to abide by the same policies," said Tan, who is MP for Kepong.

"However, we are firm in our stand that we oppose the Islamic state concept proposed by PAS," he added.

DAP announced its withdrawal from the opposition Barisan Alternatif coalition in September last year, citing irreconcilable differences with its partner PAS over the Islamic state issue.

Meanwhile, Tanjong MP Chow Kon Yeow expressed concerns over what he termed as different characteristics of Fadzil and Hadi.

He said Hadi is more insistent about implementing Islamic state's policies compared with the late PAS president.

"We need time to observe whether PAS will become more assertive under Hadi's leadership," he told malaysiakini yesterday.

Seputeh MP Teresa Kok said she has to accept PAS' proposal since DAP does not have the authority to decide on the appointment.

"I don't want to disrupt the appointment," she said, adding that she respected Parliament's tradition of appointing a leader from the biggest opposition party.

'Not divided'

Last Wednesday, DAP issued a statement distributed to the press in Parliament saying that it supported Hadi as Opposition Leader based on convention that the bearer of the position comes from the party with the most seats.

Acting secretary-general Chong Eng said in 1990, when DAP had 10 MPs, PBS eight, PAS seven and Semangat 46 six, PBS supported DAP's candidate to become the Opposition Leader based on a similar principle.

The statement was issued the day after PAS submitted to Dewan Rakyat Speaker Mohamed Zahir Ismail, Hadi's name as the new Opposition Leader. However, as sitting ended soon last Thursday, Zahir has deferred the announcement to the next one in September.

When contacted yesterday, Chong said DAP MPs were not divided over this issue.



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